Utility’s efforts to boost sustainability recognized nationally

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has selected Portland General Electric as the recipient of a 2014 Green Power Leadership Award for outstanding efforts to supply its customers with energy from sustainable and renewable sources.

PGE was one of four power providers from around the country to receive the EPA’s Green Power Supplier of the Year Award.

Carol Dillin, PGE’s vice president for customer strategies and business development, said the utility received the award in large part because of its customers and their willingness to voluntarily buy renewable power.

PGE created its renewable power program in 2002 as a way to provide users with an affordable alternative to traditional power. The program now provides three renewable power products – all sourced regionally – to 209,000 customers. The utility’s participation rate of more than 12 percent ranks it first in the nation for participating customers and for megawatt hours delivered (a whopping 980 million kwh and counting), according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.